***Daughter and Dolly - jumping BIG!!!***

R

redmone

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Hi everyone!!!!

Daughter and Dolly have had a fantastic week, so I thought an update was in order!

To start with they came 3rd and 5th in a local dressage competition (very pleased because daughter was the only junior in the class where she came 5th so was happy to be placed at all!) then they came 1st, 2nd and 4th in their online dressage competition which was lovely too!!

They did pony club on Wednesday, during which Dolly was very "fresh" and decided to do most things in a new pace which daughter has called "working jog" and then whilst being scored on balance and position by the instructor, she only had to trot to the back of the ride, but decided a couple of bucks and a bit of a gallop was more in order!! Daughter sat well, got the giggles and was scored 8/10! I had to have "a word" with daughter though because, as she flew past me at god knows what speed, I swear I saw her kick her on!!!!! She claims she wanted to make sure she didn't stop at the gate........:rolleyes:;):p

Then on Thursday I booked an indoor arena with a course of showjumps up, for some jumping practice, as a treat!! It gave me a good opportunity to drive the horsebox without OH for support, and prove to myself that I can take them places on my own! Was lovely!! They did really well - Dolly put a couple of stops in and daughter fell of twice (:p) but bounced well and was back on in a jiffy! Seems Dolly doesn't like fillers, or anything green generally :rolleyes: so we know what to work on!!!

Anyway, thought I'd share a few photos - most of them aren't very good because I'm pants at photos and they were moving too fast for me to catch!!!!

A BIG milestone! Daughter and Dolly's first metre jump! AND I KEPT MY EYES OPEN!!! OH YES!!!!! :eek::cool::D

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Love this photo. Don't know why, as the quality is pants.

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Dressage last week - my god those plaits aren't fairing well!!!

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My cool girls!

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And finally, chilling in the stable!

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I'd offer you wine for getting this far, but nope, I'm not sharing!!! Got some lovely mexican beer and krispy kreme donuts if you fancy those!!!

Thanks as always for reading, and for all your support!!!

:D:D:D
 
Wow, gorgeous pics, you must be so proud of them. They look amazing. My heart would well and truly be in my throat with my daughter jumping that big so well done being a brave mummy!
 
Love all the pics, but especially the "working jog" - my highland's doing that too atm, too much energy!! V. much liking miniRM's style, kicking on so "she doesn't stop at the gate" ;) nice work :D
 
Well done on your fantastic achievement - keeping your eyes open! ;)

Glad to see them going really well.
 
That is brilliant - can't believe the height they are jumping!

But your plaits need some work!!!

At the moment they are going up like a shire horse - you need them to point horizontally (if they have to point anywhere at all!

I suspect you are standing above her and plaiting upwards. You need to try to pull the plait downwards when you are plaiting (much easier on a taller horse) and then roll them. It may be your mane is a bit thick and you need to thin it out a little. And plait tighter as they look a little baggy. If you think you are about to get cramp in your hand after the third plait you are probably doing it right ...

And because I am a neatness fanatic, get a bit of plaiting thread and make an extra keeper for your noseband to stop the strap flapping about under her chin!

The progress they are both making is amazing - you must be so proud of them!
 
bikerchickone said:
Wow, gorgeous pics, you must be so proud of them. They look amazing. My heart would well and truly be in my throat with my daughter jumping that big so well done being a brave mummy!
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Thank you!

You know, I'd normally be scared of them jumping like that but I knew she'd do it for her so for once I was quite calm!!!

Actually looked less daunting in real life, when I saw this photo I crapped myself!!! :eek::D
 
JFTD said:
Love all the pics, but especially the "working jog" - my highland's doing that too atm, too much energy!! V. much liking miniRM's style, kicking on so "she doesn't stop at the gate" ;) nice work :D
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Yeah, I didn't believe her with that and I'm not convinced the PC instructor did either!!!

What's going on with all the energy in these ponies at the moment!! I thought we'd got past this in April!!!! My theory is spring grass, combined with ponies losing winter coats in warm weather and then getting cold weather sharpness again!!

Or maybe it's just Dolly!!! :eek::cool::rolleyes:;):p:D
 
ZondaR said:
There are some lovely pics there. The last one should be in a frame. Congrats to Daughter jumping the 1metre fence and on her placings!
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Thanks! I was thinking we need that one in a frame too!!!

Don't know why the metre thing was so important to daughter, but she just wanted to say she'd done it and now she has! She can stick to 50cm from now on, for mummy's sake! ;)
 
FMM said:
That is brilliant - can't believe the height they are jumping!

But your plaits need some work!!!

At the moment they are going up like a shire horse - you need them to point horizontally (if they have to point anywhere at all!

I suspect you are standing above her and plaiting upwards. You need to try to pull the plait downwards when you are plaiting (much easier on a taller horse) and then roll them. It may be your mane is a bit thick and you need to thin it out a little. And plait tighter as they look a little baggy. If you think you are about to get cramp in your hand after the third plait you are probably doing it right ...

And because I am a neatness fanatic, get a bit of plaiting thread and make an extra keeper for your noseband to stop the strap flapping about under her chin!

The progress they are both making is amazing - you must be so proud of them!
Click to expand...

Thanks, for your support and advice.

Are these any better?

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Generally my rule is for dressage, I band them, for a show day I sew them in. I hate to sound lazy, but for two 5 minute sessions (when judge doesn't get out of car) I consider banding enough. That probably makes me sound awful doesn't it!!! But banding takes me about 20 mins, sewing in about an hour! I'm not good at that yet.

Yes, Dolly has a super thick mane and probably needs pulling again. I'm going to try to have a go myself this time :eek:

I do also stand on a step (12.2 pony, 5 foot me!!) so you're right - I am plaiting above her. Should I try doing it from the ground in future??

Thanks again! RM x
 
redmone said:
Thanks, for your support and advice.

Are these any better?

576382_10150986495481804_546031803_12195894_1358252055_n.jpg


Generally my rule is for dressage, I band them, for a show day I sew them in. I hate to sound lazy, but for two 5 minute sessions (when judge doesn't get out of car) I consider banding enough. That probably makes me sound awful doesn't it!!! But banding takes me about 20 mins, sewing in about an hour! I'm not good at that yet.

Yes, Dolly has a super thick mane and probably needs pulling again. I'm going to try to have a go myself this time :eek:

I do also stand on a step (12.2 pony, 5 foot me!!) so you're right - I am plaiting above her. Should I try doing it from the ground in future??

Thanks again! RM x
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Those are way better - but the forelock is still pointing to heaven!!! Definitely don't use steps (unless you are under 3'6" ...!!!) - I tend to plait, band them, then once I have done the whole mane, roll them and sew them in - this is far quicker as you only have to thread the needle every 3 plaits or so, and it doesn't seem to bad. It is hard when they have a lot of mane!
 
ester said:
:eek: at that jump!

I think FMM is saying that in future get yourself a deck chair to do your plaiting from ;) :D
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:eek: indeed! Daughter has announced she wants to do junior puissance!!! Yeah, that's soooooooo not happening!!! lol! :D

LOL re plaiting! Just looked at the photo I pasted above - NOPE they're no better are they! Just like little sticky uppy golf balls. :(

Must do better mummy. No red ribbon for me. :(;):D
 
redmone said:
:eek: indeed! Daughter has announced she wants to do junior puissance!!! Yeah, that's soooooooo not happening!!! lol! :D

LOL re plaiting! Just looked at the photo I pasted above - NOPE they're no better are they! Just like little sticky uppy golf balls. :(

Must do better mummy. No red ribbon for me. :(;):D
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But they are at least neat little balls rather than baggy shapeless ones!!! I bet once you stop standing above her to plait they will be fine! I find my son's pony nearly impossible to plait as I have the same problem. I am crouching down desperately trying to get the damn things to stop sticking up!
 
FMM said:
Those are way better - but the forelock is still pointing to heaven!!! Definitely don't use steps (unless you are under 3'6" ...!!!) - I tend to plait, band them, then once I have done the whole mane, roll them and sew them in - this is far quicker as you only have to thread the needle every 3 plaits or so, and it doesn't seem to bad. It is hard when they have a lot of mane!
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:D:D:D I'd sewed those in the night before, they were a bit fuzzy nearer the withers but better than my dressage ones!!!

Good call re the banding then sewing, it seems to take for ages. I'll try to ditch the steps, but I'm SOOOOoooooo short and my arms hurt :(:rolleyes::D

She has LOADS of mane!! Like a big fat mohican of mane!!!

Thanks for the tips, I didn't know the forelock shouldn't point to heaven! LOL! :D
 
I always read your posts but as a lurker I am very naughty and never reply buy I had to reply to this.
They look super and I think you have a great team! Your daughter is very lucky to have you as support. Well done for keeping your eyes open too!
Will keep an eye out for updates and will try harder to reply and not just view!
 
FMM said:
But they are at least neat little balls rather than baggy shapeless ones!!! I bet once you stop standing above her to plait they will be fine! I find my son's pony nearly impossible to plait as I have the same problem. I am crouching down desperately trying to get the damn things to stop sticking up!
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And here's me stood on a mounting block trying to get above Dolly to plait her up!!! DOH!!!!!!

When I first plaited her up, I did 21 plaits!!!! 21!!! I'm down to 11 now, but 13 looks better as they're smaller and neater!

I do like doing it though, it's like therapy for me! lol!!! :D
 
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